A half-forgotten children’s programme is about to find a bigger screen. On Friday 9 October, Focus Features and Blumhouse-Atomic Monster announced that they had acquired Play House, a small budget horror film that emerged from Fantastic Fest. The plan is to bring it to cinemas in 2027.
What Happened
Focus Features and Blumhouse-Atomic Monster have acquired worldwide rights to Nicolas Curcio’s feature debut. Universal Pictures International is set to handle the film outside the US. The announcement gives Play House a theatrical route after its Fantastic Fest showing.
The story follows Elliot, who is renovating a run-down house while trying to win back his ex. He finds tapes of a children’s television series that never aired, and the programme begins to intrude on his life. Curcio wrote the film with Kirby Gladstein; Will Harrison, Jessica Sula, Jordan Gonzalez and James Urbaniak star.
Practical Details
- Announcement: Friday 9 October 2026.
- Film: Play House, Nicolas Curcio’s feature directing debut.
- Release: Cinemas in 2027; no exact US or UK date has been announced.
- Distribution: Focus Features and Blumhouse-Atomic Monster acquired worldwide rights, with Universal Pictures International handling international distribution.
Why It Matters for Viewers
The film began with Fantastic Pitches, an initiative designed to get low budget genre ideas made. Its move to Focus and Blumhouse gives a first-time director a much wider path to audiences. The uneasy children’s-show premise is distinctive, though the film’s effectiveness will have to wait until people can see it.
There is no trailer or precise release date to plan around yet. For now, the useful change is simple: this festival horror film has a distributor and a stated cinema year.
Movieversalfilm Takeaway
Play House now has a 2027 theatrical plan and a clear creative team. Its exact UK and US dates are still to come.
Does a lost children’s show sound like the start of a horror film you would see in cinemas?